Fashion stylist Nicole Heath vowed never to go back to a country after visiting once. But she never tires of Turkey and goes back time after time.
She recently went on a week-long bespoke boat charter which took her around the country’s turquoise coastline with Gulet Escapes. We asked her what appeals to her about Turkey and if she found her sea legs….
Hi Nicole, first of all, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?
I am a fashion stylist, selling a fabulous range of ladies’ clothes which I help my clients build over the seasons into a capsule wardrobe of ‘go to’ pieces that they will wear and wear. My mantra is: buy less, buy smart, wear more. With over 30 years in fashion, I have great experience in all elements of fashion and style, most recently having my own shoe line for 20 years, which sadly I gave up due to health issues.
Do you travel often?
I travel as much as I can these days. When I had my shoe business, I was abroad every six weeks or so. Now I travel for pleasure and not business. With two years out for Covid and a brush with breast cancer, I am now getting back out and about. In 2019, before Covid, I went to Barbados, Turkey (twice), Spain, Jersey, Norfolk, Yorkshire and London for four or five stay over trips. This year I have eased myself back in with America, Jersey and Turkey.
Why did you pick a gulet holiday?
I have been on gulets before for day trips and always found them super relaxing and so I fancied doing a week-long trip – but on the right boat (in the nicest possible way) and on a more ‘off the beaten track’ route.
Why Turkey and what do you love about the country?
I absolutely love Turkey and the Turkish people, culture and food. I have spent 10 years working with factories for my business and got a great insight into the country then. I always said I would never go back twice to a country, but I never tire of Turkey and go back time after time. The scenery on the turquoise coast is stunning.
What was the weather like in September/October?
I’m a big fan of travelling to Turkey in April/May and September/October. The weather is more pleasant – still very warm by our standards and quieter outside of the summer holidays. I find it too hot in the summer months, with temperatures up to and over 40. In September, the sea is at its warmest, so it’s ideal for swimming off the boat.
What made you choose Gulet Escapes?
I originally was looking at a yoga experience, but I couldn’t find any with consistently good reviews. I did a lot of research and found Gulet Escapes by accident. I liked the itineraries and the boats, and they had a lot of good reviews. I liked the idea that you could just do a cabin charter or you can hire the whole thing. I chose the smallest boat as I thought it would be quieter and more relaxing.
Was this you first holiday onboard a boat?
My brother has sailed for years on his boat in Dartmouth, so I have had a few holidays on boats. However, the weather is not as good in the UK! It was my first trip abroad on a boat.
Where did you sleep and what was accommodation like?
MS Nikola (it was meant to be) had four cabins sleeping a total of eight, although the master cabin can sleep three. You go down three steps from the saloon and there are three cabins at the front and the master at the back. Because it is a traditional gullet, everything is in highly polished wood and space is used to the maximum.
I had a wardrobe, plenty of drawer space, cupboards under the bed for suitcases and a spacious bathroom with shower, vanity basin, hairdryer, vanity mirror and plenty of drawers. Towels and bathrobes are changed regularly and you get a beach towel which is kept in a basket on deck with your room number on it.
The beds are queen size. You have two sliding windows in the bedroom and the same in the bathroom, and all cabins have air conditioning.
How many crew were on board?
We had three crew looking after five of us: Ramazan, our captain; chef Ilmaz and first mate Aydin.
Were all your meals onboard and what did you eat?
We had breakfast, lunch and dinner on board every day. Breakfast was typically Turkish with cheeses, bread, eggs any way you liked, jams, olives and fruit. We had cooked lunches and dinners every day with a huge variety of salads and accompaniments.
The crew went fishing most mornings and ran a line off the boat while in motion, so we have a variety of fresh fish at least once a day, including octopus, mahi mahi, sardines and sea bream. We never had the same dish or salad twice. We also had chicken, lamb and beef. The chef was amazing and also catered for a vegetarian and a gluten free guest. We had unlimited tea, coffee, water, wine and beer included in the charter, but spirits were extra.
How was it sharing your charter?
I chose a cabin charter so I knew I would be sharing the boat with other people. My only concern was whether I liked them and they liked me! However, it worked out very well and I was accompanied by a lovely couple from Australia doing a tour of Europe and a couple from Portsmouth. The man from Portsmouth had been on the MS Nikola six times previously! I think the cost of the trip means you are probably going to be with similar people and we were all a similar age. You can charter the whole boat if you wish with family or friends.
What was there to do onboard?
Days just seemed to fly past and I was never bored. We sailed to different bays where we swam or snorkelled and ate. We stopped off at small villages with artisan shops and visited lots of ruins charting a lot of Turkey’s history. We fed wild rabbits on Rabbit Island and relaxed and read, when there was time. When we were sailing at sea, it was just great to watch the view. They have a library and games on board but no one had time, and they have a kayak and a paddle board too.
What were the highlights of your holiday?
Highlights were the experience itself, the food and the crew – who couldn’t do enough. The captain was very knowledgeable about the area and took us to places that were not overcrowded and touristy. It was so relaxing and although I thought I could never sleep well on a boat on the open sea, I slept better than I had done in ages!
Were there any low points or ways in which you think your holiday could have been better?
There were no low points other than we disembarked in Bodrum, which was a complete contrast to what we had experienced all week. I had to spend the day and night there due to return flight times and it’s a very touristy, bustling place. I was last there six years ago and it’s become much more busy, with lots of very persistent shop owners. If I chose again, I would start in Bodrum and finish where we started in Gocek, which is much quieter. However, it didn’t really spoil my time and I got to visit the castle (fascinating) and do some shopping !
Do you have any tips or advice for anyone else thinking of taking a gulet holiday?
My tips: do your research. There are a lot of companies who do these trips and you could go with TUI or Anatolia Escapes on a much bigger boat for a lot less, but you have to factor in that you will probably be paying extra for certain things and will not get the exemplary and one-to-one service or the accommodation. I’d much rather have a more intimate, personalised experience. There are a lot of boats that pass themselves off as gulets but are more like ‘double decker’ floating buses and are not very nice, in my opinion.
All in all, it was a great experience which I will definitely do again, with the same company.
The cost of Nicole’s all inclusive week-long cabin charter from Bodrum to the Gulf of Gokava in October 2023 was £2,200 for single occupancy in a queen cabin/£1,700 per person sharing (excluding flights).
Bodrum – Gulf of Gokova – Bodrum (All Inclusive)
You can follow Nicole on Instagram here:
The Sun Lounger 
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